Domestic appliance



Jan. 19, 1943.

F. H. MCCORMICK DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed Dec. 31, 1958 4 Sheets-$heet l INVENTOR.

BYYZ- W I ATTO 5Y5 Jan. 19, 1943.

F. H. MCCORMICK DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed D99. 31, 1958 4 Sheets Sheet 2 BY .ZMQK ZQ INVENTOR.

1943. F. M CORMICK 2,

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed Dec. 31, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 6 I kINVENTR.

Jan. 19, 1943- F. H. MCCORMICK DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed Dec. 51, 19:58

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

embodying my invention:

Patented Jan. '19,

UNITED STATES i'PATENT OFFICE noiuns'rrc arrmsncn imnoa n. McCormick. Dayton, on... as... to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation qt Delaware v Application December 31, 1938, Serial No. 248,823 .14 (Cl. 126-191) frhis invention relates to a domestic appliance, and more particularly to doors and door controls for stoves. and refrigerators.

. The doors usually provided on stoves are supprovide .a concealed door control construction for an oven in which the parts including the bal-' ancing spring, catch mechanism and-door connections are readily accessible for adjustment.

a drawer compartment beneath the oven.

. It is a"further object of my invention to provide an improved concealed hinge type of door construction for a stove;

Further objects and advantages-of the pres- 40 ent invention will be' apparent from the follow- .ing'description, reference being had tothe 'ac- V I J companying drawings, wherein a preferred form c of the present invention is' clearly shown' In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an electric range Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of one front corner portion of the oven including a por-' tionof the door taken along the line 2-2 of Fig.3 is a sectional view of the unitary assembly incorporated/in the range taken along the lineHofl'igJ;

lamb for the oven 'door 28.

taken along the line ported'on ,a hinge pin and provided with a bal- F18. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line ancing'BDriHg and some sort of a catch for hold- 6-! of-Fig. 3. f ing the door closed. It has been customary to. Fig. '7 is a view showing a vector analysis of mount these control parts upon diilerent portions the forces applied. to the door. of theadjacent stove. structure. I have found Briefly, I have shown an electric range prothat misalignment sometimes occurs when the 10 vided with a balancing spring door catch and stove is constructed in such a manner, resulting hinge pin bearing in the form of a unitary asin difllcult and undesirable door operation," and sembly. which may be assembled into the range these parts are often difficult to assemble when as a unit prior to the attachment of the door mounted in this manner. and the lining of the oven. This assembly "is It is an object of my invention to provide a 5 fastened by screws to the door jamb portion of -concealed construction for a door'and door conthe shell so that all the parts cooperating with trol which will prevent misalignment, facilitate the door are thereby maintainedin proper alignassembly and provide convenient accessibility ment and relationship. The connection between for the parts thereof. the door and its control, as'well as the adjust- It is afurther object of my invention to promentof the control, are both readily accessible vide a stove construction in which an assembly from the drawer compartment beneath the oven.

including the hinge pin bearing, the catch and Referring now to the drawings, and more perthebalancing spring is, made *as a unit and is ticularly to Fig. 1, there is shown an electric assembled into the stove asa unit, thereby fa-' range, generally designated by the reference cili tl the as mbly and insuring alignment 2!! character 20, provided with an outer shell 22 of the door and door control. containing an oven compartment lined by the It is another-object of my invention to provide oven liner 24. The outer shell 22 is providedan improved balancing arrangement for a door with an opening registeringwith the oven liner vof the type generally used on stoves. 24 and is provided with arecessed flange 26 It is still another object of my invention to around the opening which serves as the door The flanged recess 28 is sui'iiciently deep to. substantially entirely receive the oven door 28 so as to make the front face of the ovendoorsubstantially flush with and removal from the bottom of the stove or from g theotherfportions of the shell 22. The door 22 is provided with an inner sheet metal member 30 having its edges 32 flangedforwardly, while an outer sheet metal member-34 has its edges flanged edges '32 and overlapping the flanged edges 32. On either side of the door between the flanged edges 32 and 38, there is inserted a heavy metal hinge bracket 38 which is welded or other-' wise bonded to the flanged edge 32. This hinge bracket 28 has a portion which extends along the flanged edge of the inner sheet metal member 32 to the bottom of-the "door. Thisportion of the bracket 38 is provided with an aperture ad- #edge of the sheet metal inner member 32 along view take along the line "flanged in the opposite direction from the h .iacentthe bottom of the door for supporting the hinge pin 40, which is provided with a flattened portion 42 at its inner vend fastened to the inner face of the door by the screw 44.; The flanged with the'adiacent portion of the hinge bracket 32 is recessed inwardly from the flanged edge of the outer sheet metal member 88 to provide a recess 48 in the lower corner oi the inner face of the oven door. I

This recess 46 receives a projecting arm 48 ex tending through a slot in the adjacent portion of the door jambportion of the outer shell 22. This projecting arm 481s provided with an aperture which receives the hinge pin 48 for pivotally connecting the door to the projecting arm 48. This provides a simple construction by which the -hin'ge of the door is concealed, when the door is closed, and is comparatively unobjectionable when the door is open.

The hinge bracket 38 isalso provided with'an integral curved arm portion 58 which extends through a slot 52 in the door jamb portion of the outer shell. This curved arm 58 also extends through a slot registering with the slot 52. This second slot is formed in the front face 98 of the door catch bracket member 54, which is fastened by screws 56 to the rear of the door jamb portion of the outer shell. The projecting arm 48 is preferably welded, or otherwise secured, to one side of the bracket member 54.

The bracket member 64 is also provided with the balancing spring and the cam follower mechanism which cooperate with the curved arm. 58. The balancing spring is in the form of a flat spiral spring 58, which has a tongue at its inner end held within a slot in the anchoring pin 88.

This anchoring pin 88 is riveted to an adjusting arm 82 provided with an arc-shaped slot 64 by which the pin 88 and, thereby, the spiral spring 58, may be fastened at any angle desired within the limits of the slot 84 by the locking screw 68 whichpasses through both side portions of the the springand the eflective length of the lever 1 arm.

Fig. 7 is a vectoranalysis oi the force applied to door 28,. The door, in its vertical position is indicated in dotted lines at 28. It fulcrums about the point 48 through the three positions I88, M811 and I88b. The spring 58 creates a force about the point 68, through the arm 88 to the point 8, where thearm 88 is attached tothe dink 18. The spring 58 creates a forcetangential to the radius III, which force is indicated by the vector I I2. The force is assumed to equal four units. The link I8 is attached to the arm 58 at the aperture I2 and creates a pull on the arm 58 along the line -lli. The force II2, by vector analysis, creates a pull along the line II8 equalize the distance from the point II8 to the point II4.

This distance is marked oi! along the line H3 bracket 54. The spiral spring 5 8 has its opposite from the point lit to the point II6. By vector analysis, this force is resolved along the line II'I tangentially to the radius H8, which radius II 8 represents the force supplied to the arm 58 about the point 48. The force applied along the line II! is equal to 7 and a fraction units and indicates the force applied to the door when in the fully closed position II8.

' Assume now that the door is moved to position I88a. When this-occurs, the point I I8 moves to 8:1 and other points move to corresponding points similarly numbered with the suiilx it added thereto- In this new position it will be seen that force. II2, which correspondsto the spring has been increased due to the winding of the'spring and is now indicated'by the numeral Illa to be 5 and a fraction units in length. By vector analysis similar to that previously described, the

. force along line II'Ia is found to be only 5 and c a fraction units, which is less than the force I I I! previously described.

Assume that the door is then moved to its zontalposition I 88b, and that the points of the vector analysis have now moved to positions indicated by numbers having the sufllx b thereto tension of the spring is reduced, the door will be held in the closed position by the tension of the spring through its greater mechanical advantage. As the door is opened, the tension of the spring is increased, but the efleetive lever arm is lengthened so that the force of the spring mechanism as applied to the door increases only gradually.

It should be noted that as the door moves furher towards horizontal position, more force is required to balance its weight, because the portion oi the weight of the door required to be 1m]- anced by the spring 58 is inproportion to the sine of the angle of the door opening. Thus, in

the wide open position of the door, it is necessary that the force provided by the spring 88 be considerably increased. As the spring is stretched.

it naturally increases considerably in tension. In addition, after the door is a little more than half way open, the eflective lever arm is shortened.

' thereby increasing the mechanical advantage of the spring 88 so as to provide additional force for counter-balancing the door." Thus, by this arrangement,-I am ableto eflectively counter balance the weight of the door by the eflective use of the two variables. namely, the tension of attached. The point- I II has now moved to H81: and the point II8 has'moved to the point II 81:.

The force of the spring along the line H2!) is assumed ,to be 6 and a fraction units, because of the increased tension of-the spring caused by winding the same about the point 88. By vector analysis similar to. that previously described, it

will be foundthat the force along the line IIIb I is now 6 and a fraction units, which is greater than the force Illa previously described.

From the above vectoranalysis it is evident that the tortional forces applied to the door 28 about the point 48 are greatest in positions I88. and I88! and are less at the position I88a. This permits the door to be held firmly. closed in vertical position, and provides more power for counter-balancing" the door as it reaches the hori-- zontal position, where its moment about the point 48 becomes'greater.

The foregoing vector analysis is intended to be only by way of example, and it is to be understood that the force of the spring and the distance creating the various vectors may be varied as desired, so long as the increased tortional forces are applied at the upper and lower positions of the door.

I do not rely upon the spring 58 and I6 vupon the 88. I Theseearn surfaces roller'll rotatably suplower end. of the arm cooperate with the 'cam horifor holding the door in tarhtly closed position. In order to hold the door 'in tightly closedposition, I have I provided the cam surfaces 14 asoares 3.

ported ona bearing surrounding a screw 80 which is fastened at its opposite ends to a follower member 82 pivotally supported upona pin 84 which,

in turn, extends across and is supported by the side portions of the bracket member 54. The '5 roller 18 is spring pressed into engagement with the cam surfaces 14 and II by a compression type coil spring 88 which extends between the spring seat 88 formed on the lower end of the pivoted bracket 82 and a spring .seat 90 formed on the lower end of a bracket 92 which is spot-welded to the side portions of the bracket u. A bolt as extends from one of the spring seats to the other through the inside of theco'il spring, 86 for limit-, ing the outward movement of the cam roller 18. 15

In this way. the cam roller 18 will only engage the cam portions 1.6 and 16 of the arm 56.

when the cam roller II is in engagement with the cam surface 14, it holds the door in tightly closed position. For broiiing purposes, however, 20'

the door is pulled slightly open so that the spring 58 holds the door with the cam surface Ill in engagement with the cam roller It. This holds the door slightly open so that vapors formed during broiling may escape from the oven. The force of the cam roller may be adjusted by changing the effective length of the bolt 84. The arm 50 is also provided with a shoulder 96 which is adapted to'engage the rear face of the connectin front portion 98 of the bracket 54 to serve as a so stop for'iimiting the opening movement of the door. Thus, it will be seen that the hinge bracket including the arm ll serves as a support for the hinge pin 40; it strengthens the lower portion'of the door; it serves as a connection to the 85 link 10 and spring I; it also serves as a stop for limiting the opening movement of the door; and it also provides cam surfaces which cooperate with the cam roller 18 for holding the door tightly closed or slightly open for broiling purposes. v

This construction provides for excellent alignment and ease of assembly. The bracket member I; together with all its parts, is assembled prior to its installation in the oven. Thus,'prior to its assembly into the oven, the bracket. is

providedwith the bracket 48, as well as the follower 8? and bracket 82, together with all their parts, as shown in Fig. 3, and also the spring 58. together with its anchoring pin, arm and screw.

Before the oven liner is inserted, the hinge 50.

bracket 84 is put into its proper place from the rear of the door lamb portion 28, and fastened by the screws 88 which serves to locate the bracket I4 and all its parts, including the hinge pin bracket 48, the brackets O! and 92, which After the bracket I4 is fastened in place, the o5 oven liner is inserted and the door I. isput into its proper place'and the hinge pin ll inserted in the bracket ll. At this time, the link "II is connected to the arm II and the arm ll. This is easily done fromthe drawer compartment ll! 76 provided immediately below the bottom wall Ill of the oven compartment whichsupports the insulation beneath the oven liner. This bottom wall I is notched to receive the botcated at the level of the bottom wall m and is sufficiently large so that the upper end of the link 10 can readily be hooked thereon from the drawer compartment 102.

the-link Ill may readily be hookefto the end of the'spring arm 68 which is obviously accessible. If desired, the adjusting screw 86 may be loosened to reduce. the tension of the spring 58 to facilitate the connection. This adjusting screw 88 is also readily accessible within the drawer compartment as is the screw 94. Thus service calls desiring a change in the door control may readily be taken-care of. It will, therefore, be seen that by this constructi'onbf the door and door control, all the parts may be properly aligned by simply assembling the bracket as above described. The bracket 54 is supported entirely by the three screws shown in Fig. 3.

While I have described this door and door construction'as applying to an oven, it is also applicable to other uses of this type door which may be used for refrigerators and other forms of cabinets.- I

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is. claimed is as follows:

1. In combination, a door lamb member, a door for closing the opening surrounded by the door lamb, a wall constructioncooperating with said door. lamb member, a supporting member constituting a separate element distinct from said wall construction and fastened to said door lamb member independently of said wall construction, an arm fastened to the door, spring means anchored to said supporting member and connected to said arm,. and pivot means fas-.

40 tend to and extending from saiddsupporting I member for pivotally supporting said door.

2. In combination, a door lamb member, a

- door for closing the opening surrounded by the 'door lamb, a wall construction cooperating with said door lamb member, a supporting member constituting a separate "element distinct from said wall construction and fastened to said door lamb member independently of. said wall construction, an arm fastened to the door, spring means anchored to said supporting member and connected to said a'rm, said arm being provided with a cam surface, anda spring pressed cam roller supported by said supporting member and acting upon said cam surface of said arm for controlling the door.

3. In combination, a door lamb member, a.

door for closing the opening surrounded by the door lamb, a wall construction cooperating with said door lamb member, a supporting member a constituting a separate element distinct from said wall construction and fastened to said door lamb member independently of said wall construction, an arm fastened to the doorfa spirally wound spring means anchored to said supporting member, and link means connecting the free end 7 of said spring means and said arm.

4. In combination, a door lamb member, a door I for closing the opening surrounded by the door lamb, a wall'construction cooperating with said door lamb-member, a supporting member constituting a separate element distinct from said wall construction and fastened to said door lamb member independently of said wall construction,'

an arm ed to the. door, a spirally wound tom of the bracket It. The aperture II is 10- :7 spring means anchored to said supporting meme The lower end of slot for receiving said arm, a supporting member constituting a separate element distinct from said wall construction located behind said slot, ifastening means extending through said door jamb member for fastening said supporting member to said door jamb member, spring means connect 7 ing said arm and said supporting member, said supporting member being provided with a projectionextending through said door jambmemher, and means for pivotallymounting said door upon said projection.

6. In combination, a door jamb member surrounding an opening, a door for closing said opening, said door being provided with an arm, said door jamb member having a slot for receiv ing said arm, a supporting member located behind said slot,

fastening means extending through said door jamb member for fastening said supporting member to said door jamb member, spring means connecting said arm and said supporting member, said arm being provided with a cam surface, a cam roller pivotally mounted upon said supporting member, and spring means forholding said cam roller in engagement with said cam surface.

7. In combination, aldoor jamb member surrounding an opening, a door for closing said opening, said 'door being provided with an arm, said door jamb member having a slot for receiving said arm, a supporting member located behind said slot, fastening means extending through said door jamb member for fastening said supporting member to said door jamb member, a torsion spring anchored to said supporting member, 'said torsion spring being provided with'an extending portion, and means connecting. said extending portion and said arm.

8. In combination, a door jamb member surrounding an opening, a door for closing said opening, said door being provided with an arm,

said door jamb member having a slot {or receiving said-arm, a supporting member located behind said slot, fastening means extending through said door jamb member for fastening said supporting member to said door jamb member, and spring means connecting said arm and said supporting member, said supporting member including two' parallel portions extending rear-' wardly from said door jamb member, said spring means being located between said parallel portions. r

9.; In combination, a door jamb member surrounding a door opening, a door for closing said.

dooropening; said door including an inner sheet metal member having its edges flanged in one direction, an outer sheet metal member having its edges flanged in an opposite direction around said flanged edges of said inner sheet metal member, a bracket fastened between said flanged edges, a projection extending outwardly from saiddoor jamb member 'and being pivotally con-. nected to said bracket, the flanged edges of said innersheet .metal member being recessed inwardly away from the flanged edges of the outer sheet metal member for receiving said projection.

10. In combination, walls forming a compartment, saidwalls including a door jamb portion surrounding a door opening for said compartment, a door control support member supported above the bottomwall of said compartment, said support member including spaced sidesexten'ding down to said bottom wall, said bottom wallhaving an opening between said spaced sides, door control mechanism located generally between said spaced sides, and a door for closing said door opening,' said door being operatively connected to said door control mechanism, said door control mechanism including adjustment means accessible from beneath said opening in the bottom wall.

11. In combination, a door jamb member, a door hinged near the lower portion of said door jamb member to swing upwardly to close the opening formed by said door jamb member, and

; door counterbalancing means exerting greater pull in the upper part of the door swingas the door is closed and in the lowerpart of the door swing asthe door is opened.

12. In combination, a door jamb member, a door hinged near said door jamb member to swing to close and open the opening formed by said door jamb member, ,and spring means exerting greater pull on said door'in the closing part of the door swingas the, door is closed and in the opening,

part of. the door swingas the door is opened.

13. In combination, a door jamb member, a door hinged near the-lower portion of said door jamb 'member to swing upwardly to close the opening i'ormed by said door jamb membenand' door counterbalancing means exerting 'greater pull, in the upper part of'the door swing as the I door is closed and in the lower part of the door swing as the door is opened, and a yielding stop for said door to hold the same in a slightly open 'position near its fully closed position.

14. In combination, a door jamb member, a

door hinged near said door jamb member to swing to close and open the opening formed by said I closed position.-

doorjamb member, and spring means exerting greater pull on said door in the closing part'oi the door swing as the door is closed and in the opening part of the door swing as the door is opened, and a yielding stop for said door to hold the same in a slightly open position near its fully FRANCIS H. McCORMICK. 

